Because it’s just too darn impolite to ask if you’re getting a refund or paying, how about instead we say: How’d you like something to eat? Free — or at least at a great discount!

In recent years, a trend at restaurant chains around the country has been to offer some food item to help ease the burden of meeting our annual obligation of citizenship. Often this coincides with the launch of a new menu or new menu item — or simply because the chain owners are feeling generous (yeah, right!).

Anyway, thanks to Sonny’s and the folks at RestaurantNews.com, here are some of the Tax Day deals available hereabouts today only. There are other deals at other places, but we don’t have one of their outlets here.

Sonny’s BBQ — The Winter Park-based chain of barbecue houses today offers the “IRS” — Irresistible Rib Special. The deal is, dine-in patrons can get the Sweet & Smokey or House Dry-Rubbed Rib dinner plates for half price. No coupon is necessary. In an emailed release, Dominic Losacco, Sonny’s vice president of marketing, says: “We’re inviting barbecue lovers to take a bit out of financial frustration or celebrate an anticipated return with a great value on Tax Day.”

Arby’s — For the fourth year, Arby’s is giving away a free order of snack size curly fries (hey, that rhymes!). However, an Internet coupon is needed. Here’s the link: www.coupon.arbys.com/taxday/

Boston Market — The chain is offering a “Tax Day Deal Chicken Meal” of two half-chicken individual meals for $10.40. Last year the chain offered a “Big Rib-bate” promotion to spotlight the launch of St. Louis-style ribs. No coupon is needed.

McDonald’s — The Golden Arches is offering a break on its signature Big Mac today: buy one at regular price and get a second for only one cent more.

For those with a musical bent, the Hard Rock Cafe in Orlando — and other locations around the country — are allowing some patrons to sing for their supper. According to a release from Hard Rock, “guests who perform a complete song on their Hard Rock Cafe’s live music state in front of the entire restaurant will receive a free dinner entree from Hard Rock’s newly launched menu.”